Formerly Homeless Teenager Hosts Thanksgiving Dinner at Community Center

ABC News On Campus reporter Julia Aubuchon blogs:
 
It’s Sunday afternoon and Syracuse University sophomore Patrick Alvarez is hosting a Thanksgiving dinner for hundreds of people at the South Side community center in Syracuse. But just two years ago, Alvarez himself was in need of assistance – he was homeless and constantly on the move.
 
“When people ask me a simple question as, ‘Where did I grow up at?’, it’s hard because I grew up all over New York City – the Bronx, Brooklyn… So I went in and out of shelters doing that and living with my mom,” said Alvarez.
 

Now Alvarez uses his experience to help others who are underprivileged. During his freshman year in college he created Project Feed Me, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping impoverished people. Alvarez said he remembers all too well what it was like.
 
“It was hard for me, especially when I was growing up, living in and out of shelters, I didn’t get meals like this. So when me and my Mom lived out of shelters, we didn’t feel like people who were more affluent, or people who were well off, cared enough to come down to give up maybe 30 to 40 hours of their week to come and do volunteering. So being a person in a position to now attend Syracuse University, I said ‘Let me give back.’ Why not start a non-profit organization, a student-ran non-profit organization –  that specific component is key –  and allow students a different type of experience on how to give back to the community.”
 
This year 19-year-old Alvarez helped feed more than 350 families, an accomplishment admired by his peers.
 
“He’s really gone through the ringer in his own past,” said co-coordinator of the event and SU student Leah Moushey, a sophomore. “I just thought it was remarkable that somebody could be that selfless. Patrick got himself a really great financial aid backing that’s just based on all the hard work he’s done. And now he went from being somebody that needed assistance and needed help, to feeding and helping people.”
 
Helping people, Alvarez says, is what he wants to be remembered for.
 
“I think at 17 years old, it was the month of February, I really pondered, ‘If I die tomorrow what would I leave to society? What would I be known for?’ Would I be known for being a person who was scared about myself and never really gave back to the community? Or would I be known for being a community leader? And I want to be known for a community leader.”
 
And people in the community appreciate Alvarez’s work. “I come here every year for the dinner,” said Syracuse resident Altwanda Haygood. “It’s really basically getting the kids out and enjoying family. It’s a good thing that they’re doing for the community. It gets all the families together to enjoy the festivities.”
 
Alvarez says the best part about it now is seeing people from all walks of life come together.
 
“Just seeing how passionate people are about other people that they’ve never met in the lives. That’s the key component. Especially when a stranger, that you’ve never known in your life, treats you with love.”
 
A take-home message everyone can truly appreciate this holiday season.